Timing clock for talking machines



July 14,1925.

1,545,641 L. DUBE ET AL TIMING CLOCK FOR TALKING MACHINES Filed Nov, 28. 3921 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 M Wm;." mmWm5 MINE; un .,...,.||-.......nlll I J9 iii Ifii July 14, 1925.

1545611 L. DUBE ET AL T IMIN G CLOCK FOR TALKING MACHINES Filed Nov. 28, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 41' 1 Jmrm. Emma.

42 v By? (.{4'

.July 14, 1925. 1,545,641

L. DUBE ET AL TIMING CLOCK FOR TALKING MACHINES Filed Nov. 28, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 I I I II III IIIIIII/II/IIIIIII 1 @@@@@@@p J5E J51) Jim/711 25791770 Patented July 14,- 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT orrlce. H

LAWRENCE DUIBE AND JOSEPH PALMA GRATTO'N, OF OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA.

TIMING CLOCK FOR TALKING MACHINES.

Application filed November 28, 1921. Serial No. 518,385.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, LAWRENCE Dumi and JOSEPH PALMA GRATTON, both subjects of the King of Great Britain, and residents of the city of Ottawa, in the Province of Ontario, Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in 'Timing Clocks for Talking Machines, of

which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to timing clocks for talking machines, and has for its objects to provide a combination of a clock and a phonograph, to provide a means of replacing the usual chimes of a clock by a phonograph designed to play any suitable record.

Further objects are to provide a clock more especially a grandfatherls clock comprisin a casing in the top part of which a clock 'al is provided, and in the lower part of which a box is formed in the casing Tsfpaced therefrom and lined outwardly with elt.

The box is designed to carry a phonograph which is to be electrically connected to a clock dial so that when the hour hand strikes a predetermined character appearing on the clock dial, 'a motor propelling the phonograph-mechanism will be started, and the record placed on the turn table of the phonograph to be played.

Further objects are to provide a number of switches corresponding to the twelve hours appearing on the clock dial so as to provide a means of playing a record at every hour or only at predetermined hours.

Further objects are to provide a combination clock and phonograph, which is simple in construction, not liable to get out of repair, and generally to adapt the several parts to better perform the functions required of it. j

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists essentially of the improved construction, hereinafter described in detail in the accompanying specification and drawings.

In the drawings;

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the improved grandfathers" clock provided with a phonograph.

Figure 2 is a sideelevation of the-same.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section.

Figure 4 is a fractional longitudinal section of the top of the casing showing the back of the dial and a diagram of the electrical connections.

Figure 5 is a cross section of the clock casing taken above the phonograph turn table.

Figure 6 is a cross section taken through the sound box.

Figure 7 is a cross sectional detail taken through the clock dial and the hour hand.

Figure 8 is a plan view of the hour hand. Figure 9 is a sectional detail taken on the line 33 of Figure 3.

Figure 10 is a side elevation of the switch boa-rd provided on the side of the clock casing.

Figure 11 isa perspective view showing the contact collar designed to engage the hour hand.

Figure 12 is a sectional detail taken through the part of the clock dial and showing one of the contact pins.

Like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a grandfathers clock of usualconstruction comprising a, longitudinal casing 10, provided in its top part with a clock B, comprising a dial 11 provided with a plurality of contact pins 12 placed in circular arrangement and corresponding to each of the characters 13 shown on the dial.

The contact pins 12 may be made of suitable conducting material and are surrounded by a collar 14 of insulating material extending between the pin 12 proper and the material of the dial 11.

The hour hand 15 provided on the clock dial 11 is formed with a sleeve 16 as usual, and the sleeve 16 as well as the hour hand 15 are designed to be made of electrical conductive material. The sleeve 16 is insulated from the spindle 17 carrying the same by means of a small sleeve or packing 18 made of insulating material, and the sleeve 16 is designed to be engaged by a collar 19 made of metal, and formed integral or otherwise provided with an arm 20 ofi'set as at 21 and pivotally mounted as at 22 to the clock dial 11 If desired. the ofiset portion 21 may be made of insulating material, while the arm itself is made of metal, but it is preferred to make the arm 20 together with the oflset portion21 of insulating material and providing 7 the top face of the arm 20 with a metallic rod 23 connected at one end to the metallic collar'19 andformed at the other end with a terminal 24, the purpose of which is hereinafter made clear.

The lower end of the casing 10 is formed with a compartment 25, in which is located and suitably spaced therefrom a box 26 in which is mounted a phonograph mechanism C together with a motor 27- designed to propel the phonograph mechanism C. The

space 28 is provided around the box 26 be-' formed, which is ofi'set as shown at 31 so asto allow the upright shaft 32 to'clearl'y extend upwardly.

. The upright shaft 32 is'carried by the v phonograph mechanism and extends through a tube or sleeve 33 in the record compartment 29 and through the compartment holdm'g amplifier as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings.

The shaft 32 at its upper-end immediately above the amplifier 30.carries a turn table 34 on which the records to be played are placed. Above the amplifier 30'underneath the turn table 34 is located a board orshelf 35 on which is mounted the tone arm 36,

.which is of usual construction and need not casing which is formed a 41 is connectedplate tlVe contact. This socket 41' is designed .to

, the box 26 be further described.

On the board or shelf 35, a box or small an elo ted opening 38 formed in the side wall o the casing 10 and designed to be normally closed by a'door 39; Inside the casing or box 37 1s a contact plate 40 on socket 41, which is the positive contact. At the base of the socket which is-the negak engage a plug 41 carried by leading wires 42 and 42' from the motor 27 located within and designedjo-propel the phonogra h mechanism C.

. he casing 10 is provided on one side thereof with a switch board 43 carrying. twelve switches 44 which are each connected by means of a wire'45 to one of the contact pins 12 provided on the dial 11 and suitably I 'msulat'ed therefrom by means of the collar The twelve switches 44 are then connected by twelve wires 46 to 37 is provided, which registers with the contact plate 40 box 37 prelocated' within the casingor F igure9 of viously described and shown in the drawin v A wire 4 connected to the contact plate 40' extends upwardly and leads to a plug 48, while a second wire 49 also connected to the terminal 24 carried by the arm 20 connected to the collar 19 mounted on the -sleeve 16 formed integral with the hour hand 15.

.to the plug48 leads the positive current .It is obvious that when the plug 43 is connected to a suitable source of electrical supply, and the switches 44 are turned on in order to complete the circuit, a positive current will be led to the hour. hands 15,

while negative current will be led through the wire 47 to the contact plate 40' thence to the plug 41' and from there to the motor 27 through the wire 42 to the plug 41 and the contact plate 40, the hour hand 15 being of conductive material will complete the circuit on touching one of the contact pins 12, and this will start the motor 27, which will propel the phonograph mechanism C and thus turn the turntable 34 on which a. suitable record will already have been placed.

When a clock is equipped with this elec trically propelled; talking machine or phonograph, itis obvious that every switch 44 correspondsto one of the hours marked on the dial 11, and if for instance the first switch member 44 is turned on, the hand 15 when it passes over the contact pin 12 corresponding to the character representing one oclock on the dial 11, the circuit will be com leted as the wires 45 and 46 are alrea y connected by'means of the switch and the motor 27 will be started, thus playing the record Elaced on the turn table 34.

.' The turn ta 1e 34 may be provided with a repeater 50 which consists of a piece of flat material formed as a semi-circle and eccentricall mounted on theu'pper end of the upright s aft 32. i

The repeater 50 is obviously designed to be mounted above. therecord 51 shown in Figure 5 of the drawings, andtheplate of .the repeater is formed integral with an arm 52 extending radially towards the centre 32. Theiieedle' 53-carried by the tone arm 36 gaged from the arm 52 and pass in the vopenwill be engaged by the arm; 52' and will space 54 thus allowingthejplate or repeater 50 to rotate with the record 51 and the curved outer end of the plate 50 will engage the needle and forcing it intothe groove 55 will bring it into engagement again with the arm 52 at the outer end of the turn table ready to start to play the record once more,

whenever the motor 27 actuated through the completion of the circuit'by means of the contact of the hand with one of the pins 12.

As no claim is made on this repeater mechanism, since it has already been invented, the same will not be further described, and it is thought that the operation of the same will be obvious from the foregoing description.

If it is desired to have a record played every hour, the twelve switches 44 are turned on in order to open all circuits corresponding to the twelve hours, but if the record is desired to be played at only predetermined hours, the switches 44 corresponding to these hours will be turned on, while the remaining switches will be turned off. As the charged hand 15 passes over the contact pins 12, it will complete the-circuit for the switch corresponding to the contact pin over which the hand passes, and this will start the motor 27, but it is of course obvious that the motor will not be started by the contact of the hand 15 and the contact pin 12, if the corresponding switch is turned off.

If desired the top face of the hour hand 15'may be covered or protected by a sheet of insulating material 56. A control for the phonograph mechanism C may also be provided as shown at 57 having an operating arm 58 extending through the casing 10 of the clock as shown in Figure 3 of the drawlugs.

A suitable means of using the phonograph Cindependently of the clock B is provided by making the wires 42 42' leading from the motor 27 of suitable length, and the additional length of the wires 42 and 42 may be suitably housed within the box or casing 37. lVhen it is desired to play the gionograph C independently of the block the door 39 is opened, and the plug 41 being disengaged from the socket 41, the wires 42 and 42' are extended to a suitable light socket with which plug 41' is engaged. This connection will start the motor 27 thus propelling the turn table 34 of the phonograph mechanism C without the current being completed through the clock.

A variety of records may be kept within the record com artment 29 and a new record may be place when desired on the turn table 34 to replace the one previously played.

If desiredthe compartment 29 may be provided with a suitable drawer 59 which would be formed intermediate of its width with a slot designed to engage the tube-or sleeve 33 provided within the compartment 29 and through which the upri ht shaft 32 extends. In this case the recor s are placed within the drawer 59 instead of within the compartment 29, as has been previously described.

As many changes could be made in the above construction, and many apparently widely difierent embodiments of our inven tion, within the scope of the claims, constructed without departing from the spirit or scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification and drawings, shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What we claim as our invention is:

1. A timing clock for talking machines comprising in combination a casing, a clock at the top thereof, a phonograph in the bottom of the casing, a motor actuating the phonograph, means electrically connecting the clock to the motor, comprising a switch board, a contact plate, and a separate connection with each hour position, to the switch board and to the contact plate, wires leading current from a source of electrical energy to the clock and motor, and means on the contact plate whereby the motor and the phonograph may be operated indepcndently of the clock.

2. A timing clock for talking .machines comprising in combination, a casing, a clock at the top thereof, a phonograph in the bottom of. the casing, a motor actuating the phonograph, means electrically connecting the clock to the motor including means whereby the phonograph can be played for hours without setting a switch after each play, and means whereby the motor and the phonograph may be operated independently of the clock.

3. A timing clock for talking machines comprising in combination a casing, a cloc at the top thereof, a phonograph in the bottom of the casing, a motor actuating the phonograph, means electrically connecting the clock to the motor, comprising a contact plate, and a separate connection with each hour. position, wires leading current from a source of electrical energy to the clock and motor, controlling means whereby the phonograph may be played at every hour successively or at predetermined hours only, and means on the contact plate whereby the motor and the phonograph may be operated independently of the clock.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands.

LAWRENCE DUBE. I JOSEPH PALMA GRATTON.

Witness:

LEO MARION. 

